Thanksgiving: Better Ways to Get Along with Those Hard to Get Along with Guests

Thanksgiving means family, friends and counting your blessings. Having family visit is a wonderful experience, but it is also burdened with stress when they are underfoot in your home. Will they have enough food? Will they have enough room? Will the children act out? Will Uncle Larry drink too much again? Will your daughter Jasmine have her normal tantrum? These thoughts and more fill your mind, and it is easy to begin feeling overwhelmed.

At this time it’s important that we focus on the main reason we are together. We are family and friends. We are walking this journey of life together to support one another when one of us gets down, and to celebrate one another when one of us gets recognized. It’s important to be together, and you don’t have to worry about how anyone else feels as long as you keep this attitude about you when they all come to your home.

While in Switzerland I was walking the streets in a sparsely populated area and happened upon this small “house-like” hotel. Appropriately named the Tralala Hotel, its 3 stars were printed boldly on the side of the building. I was intrigued what three stars at the Tralala Hotel would afford you. I walked in and was amazed! It was a family hotel and they treated you as though you were well-known family. Guests looked happy, hugging one another and didn’t seem to notice the missed luxury of fancier hotels in the town square. A large sign read:

Guest Rules:

We will welcome you, but you have to carry your own bags to your room.

We will find a place for you to sleep. It may not be as luxurious as your bed at home, but it will be better than the floor.

We will make breakfast and lunch, but we will not serve you. If you want something not made, you may want to take a walk and/or find a restaurant to cater to your needs.

We have a place where you can shower or wash and we have soap, but if you need a special soap please bring it.

Our hotel is a place of love. Please don’t bring smoke or callous words into our hotel. It offends the air, and it offends us.

The Tralala Hotel can be your motto for handling guests over the holidays as well as you being a guest at someone’s home. Here are a few suggestions when you are staying with someone in their home.

Be kind and clean up after yourself. There is no maid service at most people’s home.

Watch your language and your habits that may offend others.

Drinking too much usually doesn’t endear you to anyone including family.

Help with the clean up chores and do it willingly before being asked.

Be gracious and don’t complain.

Never outstay your welcome.

During the holidays keep it simple; make your food with love instead of expensive ingredients, and let go of not being enough. 3 stars can feel like 5 stars when it is free of toxic words and actions, and replaced with gratitude for the many blessings you have.